Strand winding apparatus



Oct. 25, 1938.

H. H. MERWIN STRAND WINDING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l oct. 25, 1938.-

H. H. MERWIN STRAND WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1955 v A.. f..

Patented oct. 25, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,134,369 'STRAND WINDING APrARA'rUs Application May 5, 1936, Serial No. 77,956

5 Claims.

This invention relates to strand winding apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for distributing strand material.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple,

5 practical and eicient apparatus adaptable for distributing strand along more than one length of traverse.

In accordance with the object, one embodiment of this invention as applied to the distributing of l strand material upon rotating take-up reels comprises a distributor screw shaft rotating in a single direction for controlling the axial traverse of a strand running ontoa reel, the screw being formed with a plurality of intersecting distinct threads or l cam tracks in its peripheral surface, which, as

selected, receive a follower adapted to operate a strand guide over more than one length of traverse to accommodate reels of different sizes. The follower and strand guide are readily adjustable for operative association with one or the other of the cam tracks. l

Other features andadvantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed' description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a strand handling apparatus embodying the features of the invention, and`with portions of the supporting frame broken away'; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section take on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale of the distributor screw shaft.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, one embodiment of the invention has been shown applied to the distributing of strand upon a take-up reel Il) xed torotate with a driven shaft I I journaled in frame members I2. The reel IIJ is arranged on the shaft II substantially equidistant the frame members I2 and is connected thereto by a flanged. adjustable collar I3 secured for rotation with the shaft by a screw I4, the flange of the collar carrying a reciprocable driving pin |5 engageable in an opening provided in one head of the reel for driving the reel. The opposite reel head is engaged by a flanged adjustable collar I8 normally flxedto the shaft by a set screw for preventing longitudinal movement ofthe reel upon the shaft towards the right and thereby disrupting the driving connection between the shaft and the reel provided by thelocking pin I5. At its left end outside the frame member I2 the shaft is journaled in a bearing member I9 integral with the frame member. Upon an outer surface of the bearing member I9 is journaled a gear 26 provided in its outer face with 'an aperture into which extends a driving pin 2| reciprocably 1, carried in a head portion 22 of the shaft II. At

its right end outside the frame member I2 the shaft carries aremovable collar 23 normally v5 fixed to the shaft by a set screw, the collar in cooperation with the head portion 22 of the shaft serving to prevent the shaft and the reel I0 secured thereto from shifting longitudinally on the' frame members during the operation of taking up 10 strand upon the reel.

Disposed below the shaft is a strand distributing apparatus which comprises -a rotary y strand distributor shaft 26 arranged parallel to the shaft I and journaled in the frame members 15 I2 and having fixed thereto and abuttingthe inner faces of the frame members collars 2`| for maintaining the shaft 26 in a predetermined longitudinal position between the frame members. The shaft 26vin'the'present embodiment is pro- 20 vided with two separate and distinct intersecting spiral screw threads or cam tracks 30 and 3| on its periphery, each comprising right and left hand intersecting threads or tracks. Each of the cam A tracks30 and 3| extends along a predetermined 25 portion of the shaft 26, the tracks 3| being disposed on a central portion of the shaft and intersecting the tracks 30 which extend from each end of the tracks 3| a substantially equal distance. The right and left hand cam tracks 3| it will be 30` observed referring particularly to Fig. 3 are disposed intermediate the right and left hand cam tracks 30, with the right and left hand halves -of the tracks 30 and 3| converging at opposite ends thereofas at 32 and 33 and '62 and 63, 35 respectively, to reverse the direction of traverse of a follower' element to be described presently. Fixed to the left end of the shaft 26 is a gear 34 which meshes with the gear 20 associated with the shaft I, the two gears in the present embodi- 40 ment being of similar diameter whereby one revolution lof the distributor shaft 26 will result in one revolution of the reel driving shaft II. The left end of the'distributor screw shaft 26 is connected to a .suitable source of power (not shown). 45

Slidablycarried'on a pair of rods 31 disposed adjacent thetop and bottom of the distributor shaft 26 and fixed at opposite ends in the frame members I2 is a distributor guide block or slide 38 which is constrained to move along the dis- 50 tributor shaft 26 by a follower '39 carried thereby. The slide 38 is provided with a transverse opening 40 in which is freely received the shaft 26. Formed in the front .face of the slide 38, as viewed in Fig. 1, is an opening 4| communicat- 55 ing with the opening 40. The follower 39 is supported for free pivotal movement, as indicated at 44, on a circular shouldered plate 45, the follower at its inner end being so shaped that it may freely enter into either of the cam tracks 30 or 3|, as selected, and its end surface is concaved to substantially conform to the contour ,of the shaft 26. 'I'he dimensions/and shape of the fol-l lower 39 relative to the curved or converging end portions 32 and 33 and 62 and 63, respectively, of the tracks 30 and 3| are such that the follower may freely enter and pass thereacross during its pivotal movement in reversing its; directionof traverse, but the width of the ifollower at its midpoint is great enough to fit snugly in the track. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 the opening 4| is of such formation that the follower 39.may freely turn on its pivot 44 when responding to its ensagement -with the' converging cam track portions 32 and 33 and 62 and 63, which effects a reversal in the direction 'pf traverse of the slide 38. The plate 45 carrying the pivotal follower 39 is removably secured to the slide 38-by screws 46 and when it is desired to enter the follower in one or the other of the cam tracks 30 or 3| and thereby cause the slide 38 to traverse a different distance, it is merely necessary to remove or partially withdraw the screws 46 which permits the follower to be drawn outwardly to disengage it from the. track in which it is entered. Thereafter the slide 38 may be slid freely upon the rods 31 the required distance whereby the follower may be engaged with the other track and the screws are then replaced.

Transversely adjustable along a slideway 41 formed in the front face of the slide 38 above the upper rod 31 is a block 48 having flxed thereto a pair of spaced parallel strand material guiding fingers 49 between which strand material 59 passes on its way to the rotating take-up reel l from a supply source, such as for instance, a cable making machine. At times it is necessary, due to slight variations in the distances between the inner faces of the heads of the reels I0 to adjust the block 48 carrying the fingers 49 either towards the right or left, as viewed in Fig. 1, in order that the strand material 50 will be coiled upon the drum of the reel with a desired relation to the. inner faces of the reel heads when the follower 39 is being` actuated by the converging cam track portions 32 and 33 and 62 and 63 to effect a reversal in the direction of traverse of the slide 38 carrying the guide fingers 49. This may be readily effected by loosening a hand screw (Fig. 2) extending through a transversely extending slot 52 formed in the slide 38 andv threaded at its inner end into the block 48 andthen sliding the block along the slideway 4'| to move the fingers 49 to their desired position and then tightening the hand screw.

In the operation of the distributor apparatus let it' be assumed that the apparatus has been properly adjusted and set up so that strand material 50 is being coiled upon a take-up reel I0 of the length indicated in full lines vin Fig. 1. Also that the distributor shaft 26 is being rotated in a counterclockwise direction which by means of the gears 34 and 20 effects a clockwise rotation of the take-up reel I0, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. As the shaft 26 rotates, the follower 39 which is shown as traversing the right hand track of the cam track 30 will cause the slide 38 to be moved` longitudinally of the shaft toward the right end of the reel I0, thereby drawing the strand material in a like direction and causing the material passing to the rotating take-up reel between the guide fingers 49 to be evenly distributed during its coiling in superimposed layers upon the reel. 'I'he separate right and left hand track 3| is idleduring the use of the track 30 and does not interfere with the traverse of the follower 39 along the latter track. When the follower 39 reaches the converging end portion 33 of the camktrack 30, the follower is deflected into the right hand track, thereby causing the distributor slide38 to be moved backwardly along the shaft 26 and guide the material accordingly.

Upon the follower 39 reaching the converging y end portion 32 of the track 38 it will similarly cause the slide to traverse the shaft in the opposite direction and guide the material accordingly. It is to be understood that the dimensions of the follower 39 and the relation of the intersecting tracks of the cam tracks 36 and 3| thereto `and to each other are such that the follower will traverse only the track which has been selected.

When it is desired to coil strand material upon a take-up reel I0 of the length indicated by broken lines (Fig. 1), the reel is flxedto the shaft 21 intermediate the frame members |2 by means of the adjustable collars I3 and I8, it being understood that in the particular embodiment illustrated that the shaft 26 is provided with two apertures suitably spaced apart for the reception of the screw 4 for securing the collar |3 in position for either length of reel. Thereafter the follower 39 is disengaged from the cam track in the manner previously described and engaged in the converging end portion 62 of the cam track 3| and after adjusting, in the manner previously described, the block 48 carrying the distributor fingers 49, if it is necessary, the strand material 50 is passed between the fingers and attached to the reel.v The shaft 426 is then caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the follower 39 will alternately traverse the cam track 3| between the converging end portions 62 and 63 thereof, and without interference from the separate track 30 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the cam track 30 and cause the distributor slide 38 to evenly distribute the material in superimposed layers upon the reel.

From the above description it is apparent that a strand material distributing apparatus embodying the features of this invention is very simple and efficient and may be readily and conveniently adapted to operate a strand guide over more than one length of traverse to accommodate reels of different lengths.

Although only one specific embodiment and application of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be understood that the apparatus is capable of other modifications and adaptations Without departing from the spirit and scope of. the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a distributor, means for distributing strand on'- a take-up reel or the like, said means including a cam follower a" rotating cam having a. plurality of intersecting follower engaging surfaces for effecting reciprocatory movements to said distributing means longitudinally of said reel and means for connecting said follower to said distributing means for selective engagement with one or the otherof the follower engaging surfaces of said cam..

2. In a distributor. means for distributing strand on a take-up reel or the like said means including a movable cam for effecting reciprocafollower connected to said distributing means fior' tory movements to said distributing means longitudinally of said reel said cam having a Iplurality of intersecting cam tracks and a cam follower connected to said distributing means for selective engagement in one or the other of said camv tracks. 'r

3. In a distributor, means for distributing strand in superimposed layers on a take-up reel or the like, said means including a rotating cam for reciprocating said distributing means longitudinally of said reel alternately in opposite directions, said cam having a plurality of right and left hand intersecting cam tracks of. diiferent lengths corresponding to reels of different lengths, and a cam follower connected to said distributing means for selective engagement in one or the other of said cam tracks for a particular length of reel.

4. In a strand winding apparatus, a rotating take-up reel, means for distributing strand in superimposed layers on said reel as it is wound thereon, said means including a rotating cam for reciprocating said distributing meansvlongitudinally ofv said reel alternately in opposite directions, said cam having a plurality of double intersecting spiral cam tracks of different lengths corresponding to reels of different lengths, `a cam reciprocating the same, and means for disconnecting the follower from the distributing means to permit the latter to be moved longitudinally of said cam and the follower engagedv in oney or theother of the cam tracks as selected for a4 particular length of reel.

5. In a strand winding apparatus, means for supporting rotating take-up reels of different lengths one at a time in predetermined position s thereon, means for distributing strand on a reel carried on said supporting means as it is Wound connected to said distributing means for reciprocating the same, a rotating cam having a plurality of intersecting cam tracks of different lengths corresponding to reels of different lengths for reciprocating said distributing means longitudinally of the reel alternately in opposite directions, said cam follower so shaped that it will follow only one track at a time, and means for disconnecting the follower from the distributing means to permit the latter to be moved longitudinally of said cam and the follower engaged in one or the other of .the cam tracks as selected for a particular length of reel.

HARRY H. MERWIN.

`thereon, said means including a cam followen,... 

